Sentences imposed for violating Clean Water Act

A chrome plating business in Walla Walla, along with an employee, are sentenced today for criminal violations of the Clean Water Act.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that sentences were imposed against 54-year-old James Christian and Smith Chrome Plating, Inc.

Christian was sentenced to a five-year term of probation and 200 hours of community service. Smith Chrome Plating, Inc., was sentenced to a five-year term of probation and imposed a fine of $15,000 to be paid in installments.

These offenses relate to violations of a State Waste Discharge Permit issued by the Washington Department of Ecology under the Clean Water Act to Smith Chrome, Inc. from December 2009 through April 2010.

From December 2009 through April 2010, Christian stated on monthly discharge monitoring reports that the company had “zero discharge” at its facility for those months. Christian signed the monthly discharge monitoring reports at issue. He subsequently admitted, however, that the reports during December 2009 through April 2010 where he indicated “zero discharge” were false, that discharges were in fact made during those months, and that Smith Chrome and Christian failed to monitor those discharges, failed to sample, and failed to keep any records or report the discharges, all in violation of Smith Chrome’s State Waste Discharge Permit.